Teacher aide shaves it all off for charity

Carter Beissel was one of three students to take the first snips out of teacher aid Danny Bruhn's beard while hairdresser Vanessa Clark keeps an eye on the clipping.

Hair today, gone tomorrow.

And so it was for Levin North School teacher aide Danny Bruhn who had his hair and beard shaved off in front of the entire school at Friday's assembly, raising more than $2100 for charity.

Three students, who raised the most between them, $50, had the honour of snipping the first tufts off Mr Bruhn's beard before hairdresser Vanessa Clark took over with the clippers.
The gathered assembly, many students sporting crazy wigs or coloured and styled hair to support the event, clapped, cheered, whistled and squealed as Mr Bruhn's face was fully revealed for the first time in three years.

VANESSA Clark shaves off the last of the beard to reveal Danny Bruhn's face.

As one young boy commented, "He doesn't look like Danny anymore."

Mr Bruhn was raising the money for Shave for a Cure in memory of a good friend who died from cancer.

"I was also being nagged by my wife to lose the beard so I decided to make it worthwhile," he said.

Nervous at the start, Mr Bruhn said afterwards it will take a bit of getting used to.
He said the kids had been really funny, half saying it was cool and the other half sad to see his beard gone.

"One girl said she was almost crying when my beard was being shaved off, and a lot of kids wanted to feel the top of my head."

He said he was grateful to the whole school and families for their support in helping raise such a phenomenal amount. The question now, will he be growing the beard back?

DANNY Bruhn sports his new 'beanie' knitted especially for him by another teacher aid at Levin North School.

"It feels quite nice at the moment; I'll give it another six months and see how I feel."

Shave for a Cure is Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand's signature fundraising event that sees thousands of Kiwis sponsored to shave their heads in support of people living with blood cancer.

The donation page for Danny Bruhn is still active at shaveforacure.co.nz for anyone else who would like to donate.